Page 6 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, ApRil 25, 2025 Wayne A. Matewsky Justice of the Peace / Notary Public (617) 389-5106 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER FACEBOOK.COM/ADVOCATE.NEWS.MA Complimentary Notary Service for Everett Seniors PROJECT | FROM PAGE 1 of the IER fl oodplain and surrounding low-lying areas in Everett and Chelsea, which include the residences of environmental justice communities, signifi cant transportation (rail and roadway) infrastructure, health care facilities, a grocery store serving much of the community and a public high school, that will become part of the projected IER fl oodIf We Happen To Meet By Accident ... You’ll Be Glad You Found Us! There is a difference between the rest and the BEST! Celebrating 46 Years In Business! TONY’S AUTO BODY Call or Visit 781-321-0032 34 Sharon Street Malden, MA 02148 TONYSAUTOBODYLLC.COM COME VISIT OUR STATE OF THE ART BODY SHOP • Computerized Paint Matching (State of the Art Spray Booth) • Computerized Frame Machines • P.P.G. Refinishing System • R134 + 1234yf A/C Machines Fully Insured -RS2415 Insurance Company Approval ALL OUR WORK IS GUARANTEED! TONY BARTOLO Owner 46 Years Let Us Handle Your Next Insurance Claim. Go With the BEST It Doesn’t Get BETTER! RENTAL CARS Available plain by 2070.” “This investment is critical for the well-being of our communities and benefi ts the environment, workforce, businesses and residents,” State Senator Sal DiDomenico, in whose district the area is located, said. “Climate change is creating severe and frequent natural disasters across our nation and the cancellation of federal funding threatens the viability of this essential project that would protect our communities and residents from severe fl ood risks over the coming years. The importance of this resilience development is without question. The $50 million allocated for this project underscores the importance of promoting coastal resilience for Everett, Chelsea and the region. I will continue doing everything I can to support Everett and Chelsea as they fi gure out what is next for this project.” Governor Healy agreed: “Massachusetts cities have been devastated by severe storms, fl ooding and wildfi res. We rely on FEMA funding to not only rebuild but also take steps to protect against future extreme weather, but the Trump Administration has suddenly ripped the rug out from under cities and towns that had been promised funding to help them upgrade their roads, bridges, buildings and green spaces to mitigate risk and prevent disasters in the future. This makes our communities less safe and will increase costs for residents, municipalities and businesses.” “With a reduction of FEMA funds, the feasibility of funding this large-scale project is certainly in jeopardy at this time,” Everett Planning and Development Director and Planning Board Administrator Matt Lattanzi told The Advocate. “From the last meeting we had between the relevant parties from Everett and Chelsea, the near-future consisted of planning, design and stakeholder discussions, which can move forward with the funding already in place. It is the construction of the project that was most-reliant on the federal funds, so some progress can still be had for the overall project, but construction schedules will, likely, be pushed out.” The Island End River Flood Resilience Project is a collaborative effort between Everett and Chelsea to prevent projected coastal storm surge fl ooding from the IER across a 500-acre floodplain that will impact more than 5,000 residents, 800+ buildings and 11,000 jobs in southeast Everett and southwest Chelsea. The Cities are working to construct a coastal storm surge barrier, storm surge control facility, nature-based approaches along the riverfront, a revitalized coastal park and related amenities at the IER. The approximately six-acre Project Site is currently composed of a mix of commercial and industrial uses and supporting roadway and utility infrastructure. The existing banks of the river are highly degraded by legacy industrial uses and are comprised of hardened slope stabilization measures and littered with debris. This Project will construct an approximately 4,650-linear-foot storm surge barrier, an approximately 2,900-square-foot underground storm surge control facility, approximately 20,000 square feet of nature-based approaches along the riverfront, and associated wetland and public access improvements along the IER. The storm surge control facility will be a gate or gates that control tidal fl ows. Nature-based solutions include upgrading river slopes by planting. BRIC is an annual FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant funded by FEMA and administered through a partnership with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). BRIC makes federal funds available to states, territories, federally recognized tribal governments and local governments for hazard mitigation activities, which have become all the more important in recent years given the severe rise in extreme weather events caused by climate change. “Climate studies show changes in sea levels pose a risk to areas not presently prone to fl ooding,” DeMaria’s Chief of Staff, Erin Deveney, PROJECT | SEE PAGE 11
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